Cable television offers a uniquely local programming option, commonly called ‘public access.? While all subscribers have a portion of their fee allocated for that purpose, the use of that option in the Clarkston area varies with the local unit of government.
In Independence Township, Comcast subscribers (including those in the city of Clarkston) have three local channels allocated according to the ‘PEG? formula (public, educational and government).
Public channel 10 includes several locally produced programs, while government channel 20 includes regular coverage of Independence Township Board meetings.
Andrew Reish, local access coordinator for Independence Township, said there has been good feedback from citizens concerning this service. Cameras are mounted in the ceiling to give a good view of the board table and the speaking lectern, and Reish said there will soon be new microphones added to better pick up conversation from the audience.
‘The quality is improving, and it does need to improve,? Reish said, noting, ‘We don’t have the ideal equipment.?
Reish has a limited budget, with a portion of subscriber fees going into the local cable fund, which is used to purchase equipment and operate the local access studio. A combination of paid employees, interns and volunteers run the technical end of the operation.
The staff can go only so far, however.
Clarkston City Council meetings used to be cablecast, for example, and the meeting room has the cameras. The screen is currently dark, however.
‘It’s not by choice,? City Manager Art Pappas said. ‘We’re all set up for it, but there doesn’t seem to be enough people [from the local access studio] to serve us.?
City officials have not heard a lot of demand from residents to view the meetings from home, and it has not been a hot topic at the council table, Pappas said.
The same can be said for Clarkston Community Schools, which has educational channel 22. While the school board meeting room has ceiling mountings designed for cameras, the district does not have adequate equipment or personnel to cablecast meetings, according to Anita Banach, director of communications and marketing for the district.
Banach said the district just got the channel ‘back? after the local access studio and Comcast offices moved from a school-owned building on Waldon Road to the former Independence Township Fire Station #3 on Maybee Road. The school district currently uses its channel only as a bulletin board.
‘Every now and again someone asks why we don’t tape the board meetings,? she said. ‘We don’t have the video part set up.?
Banach said plans for the expanded administration center includes a cable control room, and money from the 2003 bond issue will purchase of a new ‘Targetvision? system which will enhance the district’s ability to customize bulletin board items and coordinate video programs.
Clarkston High School has the curriculum and a studio in which students learn broadcast technology, but Banach said it is too difficult to use students for district cablecasting.
‘It’s not like I can pay the kids to be there? for meetings, concerts or athletic events, she said, although she hopes it can be done in the future.
‘We need to take baby steps,? she said, noting the ‘awesome potential? for cable.
While also served by Comcast, Springfield Township’s franchise agreement does not include much in the way of public access. Indeed, Clerk Nancy Strole said the agreement pre-dates Comcast being the local provider. The township has one channel, used currently as a bulletin board service. There apparently is no budget for local access video programming.
Treasurer Jamie Dubre is spearheading an effort to develop a township Web site, that being deemed a higher priority at this time. The township-hired consultant, Capital Consultants of Lansing, has some expertise in cable as well.
The hope is that the new Web site (scheduled for launch this fall) will have cross-compatibility to allow for some Web pages to be shown on the public access channel.
With that, Dubre is honest that video programming is not at the front of the list.
‘We don’t have the funding? for staff and equipment, she said. ‘At some point, that would have to be funded out of the general fund. We want a million things, but we’ve got to start somewhere.?
The future may bring some cable changes in Independence Township, where officials are currently in negotiations with Comcast for a new franchise agreement.